MP'S ANGER OVER FOUR YEAR TRAIN DELAYS ON THE "SARDINE LINE"

10.31.00am GMT Wed 2nd Dec 2009

A crunch meeting in Westminster yesterday failed to deliver the extra trains on the overcrowded Hazel Grove line that local MP Andrew Stunell says are urgently needed.

Fourteen Greater Manchester MPs from all parties met with the ITA as part of a campaign for up to 180 extra railway carriages for the NW, needed to meet the rising demand for seats on local services. But they were told the Department of Transport would now delay paying for any new rolling stock, and instead intended that trains would instead be transferred from the Liverpool - Manchester route when that line is electrified in 2013.

A second phase of rail improvements would see additional new-built carriages purchased for the lines, but this depends on new projections of passenger growth, and in any case would not be available until the end of 2013 at the earliest.

Commenting after the meeting, Andrew Stunell said:

"The problems on the Hazel Grove line have been made far worse this year by the cut from 3 carriage electric trains to two carriage diesels. Add to that growing passenger numbers, and conditions are impossible. Today's news of delays of up to four years to fix the problem is completely unacceptable.

"News of the Government's about-turn will anger passengers who are utterly fed up with being forced to travel day after day on Greater Manchester's 'sardine line'.

"Despite all-party support for tackling commuter overcrowding, the government have failed to act. They accept we need more trains, but are not showing the urgency we need to solve our overcrowding problem.

"Commuters in my constituency, and across Greater Manchester are looking for urgent investment in extra carriages to end the massive rush hour overcrowding on local routes. Waiting another four years is simply not an option."

The MPs now plan to push Ministers for a re-think on their investment plans, and will be meeting with transport officials next month to plot their next moves.

ENDS